Lincecum sharp as Giants earn split with Brewers

Tim Lincecum yielded one hit across eight stellar innings and Brandon Belt provided an early three-run homer, as San Francisco downed Milwaukee, 4-1, to gain a split in this four-game set.

Lincecum's (6-11) lone blemishes were a leadoff double from Juan Francisco in the third and a one-out walk to Jeff Bianchi in the fifth. He finished with eight strikeouts to record his first win since tossing a no-hitter in San Diego on July 13.

"I'm just trying to stay within myself. I know I'm not blowing anyone away with a 95 m.p.h fastball anymore. I have to use what I have and get the outs," Lincecum admitted.

Marco Scutaro totaled three hits and scored twice for the Giants, who had lost four of their last five prior to Thursday's series finale. Brandon Crawford also hit safely three times and added an RBI single.

Donovan Hand (0-4) was tagged in defeat for seven hits and four runs, fanning four and walking as many in just five frames for the Brewers, who have dropped five of their last eight.

Jean Segura drove in Milwaukee's lone run in the ninth.

After Lincecum departed, three Giants relievers combined to make things interesting in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Khris Davis doubled off Sandy Rosario, Javier Lopez induced a groundout from Norichika Aoki, then Sergio Romo allowed the RBI single to Segura, before setting down the next two batters to lock up the game.

The Giants struck first, on Belt's three-run blast in the opening frame. Scutaro kicked off the frame with a single and Crawford was also aboard thanks to a double.

It was 4-0 in the second as Scutaro doubled with two down, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a Crawford base hit.

"You could see it from the first pitch. We hit one ball hard against him all day," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said. "We had a great game on Wednesday and we come back in here talking about another win. But it always seems like there's something that comes up."

Game Notes

Despite the win, the Giants are just 8-12 since the All-Star break and have gone just 28-48 since May 14, one of the worst records in the majors since then ... Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks was sent back to Milwaukee to get an MRI exam on his left hamstring, a move which may be a precursor to a stint on the DL ...Prior to the game, the Giants designated catcher Guillermo Quiroz for assignment and recalled catcher Hector Sanchez from Triple-A Fresno ... Both clubs kick off three-game interleague sets on Friday, as San Francisco welcomes Baltimore and Milwaukee heads to Seattle.